Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 7th (local time) rejected the ceasefire proposal of the Palestinian armed group Hamas as a “delusion” and announced that he would continue to fight until complete victory.
According to the Associated Press and BBC, Prime Minister Netanyahu made this statement at a live press conference after meeting with US Secretary of State Tony Blinken on the ceasefire plan.
Prime Minister Netanyahu warned, “Giving in to Hamas’s absurd demands will not lead to the release of hostages, but will only lead to another massacre.”
At the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “We are heading toward absolute victory,” and added, “The military operation (to destroy Hamas) will only continue for months, not years. “There is no other solution,” he emphasized.
Prime Minister Netanyahu ruled out any plan that would allow Hamas to take full or partial control of the Gaza Strip, asserting that “Israel is the only power that can guarantee long-term security in the region.”
Previously, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken said that much remains to be done to resolve differences on the terms of negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas proposed a three-stage ceasefire for a total of 135 days and hostage-detainee exchange in response to the ceasefire proposal presented by the United States, Israel, Qatar, and Egypt. In addition, Hamas demanded the withdrawal of Israeli ground forces operating in the Gaza Strip.
The counterproposal stipulates that in exchange for the end of the war, hundreds of imprisoned Palestinians, including high-ranking Hamas officials, and all hostages must be released in exchange.
Israel has set neutralization of Hamas’s governance and military capabilities in the Gaza Strip as one of its war goals and has put it into practice.
Israel is concerned that the Hamas proposal could actually leave it in control of the Gaza Strip so it can rebuild its military.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.